Overview
The vision of the seven seals begins in Revelation 4 with a description of God’s throne room.
John was on earth in Revelation 1-3, and Jesus dictated seven letters to the seven churches. In Revelation 4, he is called up to God’s throne room. He did not see with his literal eyes, but God gave him images and voices directly in his mind.
The first thing that John saw was God’s throne. “Throne” is the main word in chapter 4. Everything in this chapter happens in and around the throne.
He also saw one sitting on the throne. To sit on the throne means to have the right to rule. Revelation 4 depicts the governing center of the universe, and the throne symbolizes God’s authority to rule the universe.
These visions describe God in human terms, but God cannot be seen. He does not exist somewhere in the universe. The universe exists somewhere within Him.
John saw 24 elders sitting on 24 thrones around God’s throne. They represent the human race from both Israel and the Church.
John also saw the seven Spirits of God before the throne, represented as seven lamps. The number seven is symbolic and means God’s Spirit is always present.
The four living creatures in and around the throne are covered with eyes, symbolizing that they see everything that happens on Earth.
Chapter 4 does not describe a specific event or a specific point in time but is a timeless description of God’s throne room. Jesus is not present in the throne room in this chapter.
4:1
| After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things.” |
After these things
This phrase often introduces a new vision (e.g., Rev 7:1, 9). “These things” refer to the seven letters to the seven churches, as contained in chapters two and three (cf. Rev 1:19).
Behold a door standing open in heaven.
John did not look with his literal eyes but in a vision. In his mind, he is no longer on Patmos but at the gates of heaven.
The first voice … like … a trumpet
This is Jesus’ voice, which John previously heard as a loud voice, “like the sound of a trumpet” (Rev 1:10). When John turned to see who was speaking, he saw a vision of the Son of man among the seven candlesticks (Rev 1:12-18). Show More
|
Jesus’ voice sounds like a trumpet and like many waters (Rev 1:15), two descriptions of the same voice.
Therefore, it is Jesus speaking in this verse. Although He is not present in this chapter, He still leads John in vision.
|
Come up here.
The voice invites John into heaven. In the first three chapters, John met Jesus on earth, for Jesus was standing between the candlesticks, symbolizing the seven churches (Rev 1:20). The seven letters (chapters 2 and 3) were also addressed to seven churches on earth. But now, the scene changes from earth to heaven.
What must take place after these things
While “these things,” referring to chapters two and three, describe John’s time, “what must take place after these things” are events that are largely in his future.
4:2
| Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne. |
Immediately, I was in the Spirit
John does not enter heaven physically; he is carried in vision by the Spirit into the heavenly places. Show More
| In Revelation, John goes “in the Spirit” four times. The first was in Revelation 1:10, where he encountered the glorified Jesus. The second is here. The third and fourth are in Revelation 17:3 and 21:10. Of the four, the current one is the only one that calls John into heaven. The others call him to different places on Earth where something happens. |
A throne was standing in heaven
The first thing that John saw was God’s throne. “Throne” is the main word in chapter 4. It appears fourteen times in the eleven verses of the chapter. Everything in this chapter happens in and around the throne. Show More
In addition to God who sits “on” the throne (Rev 4:2, 4, 6, 9, 10), we read about things:
-
-
- In the midst of the throne (Rev 4:6),
- Before the throne (Rev 4:5, 6, 10),
- All around the throne (Rev 4:3, 4, 6), and
- Coming out from the throne (Rev 4:5).
|
The term “throne” is drawn from the governmental language of the time. The person who sits on a throne has the legal authority to rule. Revelation 4 depicts the governing center of the universe, and the throne symbolizes God’s authority to rule the universe. He has that authority because He created all things (Rev 4:11). Show More
| There are four major throne scenes in the Old Testament. Revelation 4 strongly alludes to the throne scene of Ezekiel 1. However, the description of the four living creatures (Rev 4:6-7) and the “holy, holy, holy” (Rev 4:8) refers to the throne vision in Isaiah 6. We find another major throne scene in Daniel 7.
The throne “was standing” in heaven, meaning it was standing before John saw it. This implies that John does not view one specific event, as in Daniel 7:9, where the throne is placed for a special event. |
One sitting on the throne
The One sitting on the throne is not named, but Revelation distinguishes between “Him who sits on the throne” and Jesus Christ (cf. Rev 5:5-7, 5:9, 5:13; 6:16). The “One sitting on the throne,” therefore, is God the Father. Since He sits on the throne, He has the ultimate authority.
4:3
| And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance. |
Like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance
Revelation 1 describes Jesus in great detail (Rev 1:13-18), but there is a vagueness in this description of God. Other throne visions are more specific. Show More
|
In Ezekiel 1:26-27, the one sitting on the throne has a human appearance. From the waist up, He looks like glowing metal and, from the waist down, like fire.
Daniel 7:9 describes “the Ancient of Days” (God). “His vesture was like white snow and the hair of His head like pure wool.”
|
These visions describe God in human terms, but God cannot be seen (John 1:18). He “alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see” (1 Tim 6:16). God does not exist somewhere in the universe. The universe exists somewhere within Him. He exists everywhere and cannot be limited to a specific location. He may appear in a theophany (an appearance), but a theophany is only a faint reflection of His real complete Being.
A rainbow around the throne, like an emerald
It is unclear whether the rainbow was horizontally around the throne or a half-circle, vertically arched above the throne, as rainbows are on Earth. Show More
| While a rainbow normally exhibits multiple colors, from purple to red, the primary color of this rainbow is green, the color of an emerald.
In the flood story of Genesis, the rainbow symbolized God’s covenant with Noah (Gen 9:12-17), an assurance that He is faithful in keeping his promises. |
4:4
Around the throne were twenty-four thrones;
and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting,
clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads. |
Like the rainbow in the previous verse, the 24 elders are “around the throne,” which should be taken in a horizontal sense. Show More
| If the rainbow is like a halo horizontally around the area, the 24 elders could be understood as sitting in or under it.
In human meetings, the audience typically sits in front of the speaker, but the twenty-four thrones encircle the throne. |
The 24 elders are people.
They are people and not angels because, in Revelation, only God’s people are numbered as 12 (24=2+12), are called elders, are dressed in white garments, have stephanos crowns on their heads, and sit on thrones. Their thrones symbolize that the elders share in God’s rule of the universe. It is wonderful to think that human beings who love other human beings like themselves represent humanity in the control room of the universe.Show More
| Based on the following, the article on the 24 elders identifies them as humans, representing God’s people on earth:
1) “Elders” is a familiar Biblical title for humans, but angels are never called elders.
2) Revelation promises that the overcomers will sit on thrones (Rev 3:21; 20:4), but angels never sit on thrones.
3) They are “clothed in white garments” (Rev 4:4), which Revelation promises to God’s people (Rev 3:4-5; cf. Rev 3:18; 6:11; 7:9, 14).
4) They have victory crowns (stephanos), which are the reward for the overcomers (Rev 2:10; 3:11) and symbolize eternal life (Rev 2:10; cf. 2 Tim 4:8).
5) The number 24 doubles the number 12, and Revelation associates the number 12 with God’s people (Rev 12:1; 21:12, 14, 17; 7:4-8).
|
They are from both Israel and the Church.
The article on the 24 elders also shows that the 24 elders represent God’s people from both the time before and after Christ. In other words, they are from both Israel and the Church. Revelation merges the Church into Israel. Show More
| The following are further examples of how Revelation merges the Church into Israel:
(1) The names of both “the twelve tribes … of Israel” and “of the twelve apostles” are written on the New Jerusalem—the eternal city of God’s people (Rev 21:12, 14).
(2) The woman of Revelation 12 first symbolizes Israel, but later also the Church. (See – Who are the woman and the child?)
(3) The “seven lampstands,” one of the things in the Jewish temple, become a symbol for the Church (Rev 1:20).
(4) The people who overcome the beast sing the song of both Moses and the Lamb (Rev 15:3) – the key figures of the Old and New Testaments.
(5) The bride of Christ is called the New Jerusalem (Rev 21:2; cf. Rev 19:7; 21:27).
|
4:5
| Out from the throne come flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. |
Lightning, sounds, and thunder
Lightning, sounds, and thunder also accompanied the Old Testament theophanies (appearances of God). Show More
|
The original theophany was on Mount Sinai (Exo 19:16-20).
In the first chapter of Ezekiel, God’s appearance also includes lightning and loud noises (Ezek 1:13, 24).
|
This series of lightning-sounds-thunder is repeated three more times in Revelation, but later instances add an earthquake and great hail. Show More
|
The following two instances add “earthquake” to the previous three (Rev 8:5; 16:18).
The third instance adds both “earthquake” and “great hail” (Rev 11:19)
|
Since the “lightning and sounds and peals of thunder” happen in the air, and since they come out of the throne, they probably represent God’s decisions and utterances. The “earthquake” and “great hail,” on the other hand, are things that happen on earth and, therefore, probably represent the earthly consequences of God’s decisions.
Seven lamps of fire … seven Spirits of God
The concept of “seven lamps of fire” recalls the Hebrew sanctuary, where seven lamps of fire were constantly burning (Exodus 25:37).
“The seven Spirits of God” are located before God’s throne, apparently subordinate to the “One sitting on the throne” (Rev 4:2).
God does not literally have seven Spirits. The number seven has to do with time and should be understood as the completion or perfection of time—the full period. The seven Spirits of God can be understood to mean that God’s Spirit is always present. Show More
| The number seven must be interpreted symbolically. It is mentioned many (56) times in Revelation and is based on the seven days of the week. It is different from the other numbers in Revelation in that the seven elements stand in chronological sequence to each other—the second follows after the first, the third after the second, and so forth, with the seventh as the last or end. The same cannot be said of the other important numbers in Revelation, such as 4, 10, and 12.
The number seven, therefore, has to do with time and should be understood as the completion or perfection of time—the full period. (Read Article) For this reason, and due to the connection between the Spirits and the lamps in the temple that were always burning, the seven Spirits of God can be understood to mean that God’s Spirit is always present. |
4:6
| And before the throne there was something like a sea of glass, like crystal; and in the center and around the throne, four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind. |
Sea of glass
It is not a real sea of glass but “something like a sea of glass.” John is doing his best to describe his vision of the heavenly in human terms. Show More
| The ancients knew about glass and glass-blowing, but ancient glass was often coarse and semi-opaque. In contrast, the reference to crystal emphasizes the transparent clarity of this sea of glass. |
In the center and around the throne
It is not clear what this means. It could mean that the four living creatures move around. On the other hand, since they are always near the throne (Rev 4:6; 5:6; 7:11; 14:3), it could also mean that they are in the center of the circle of elders, between the circle of elders and the throne. Nevertheless, since they are always near the throne, they seem to be intermediaries between God and humanity, represented by the 24 elders.
Four Living Creatures
While the twenty-four elders represent the human race before God, the four living creatures represent the angelic portion of God’s kingdom. Show More
| The King James Version describes the four living creatures as “beasts,” but that is not a good translation. The Greek word for beast means an animal and is reserved for the forces of evil in Revelation (Rev 11:7; 13:1; 13:11, etc.). “Living creature,” on the other hand, is a broader term that can also represent angels, birds, and humans. |
Both Revelation 4 and the throne vision of Ezekiel 1 have:
-
-
- Four living creatures (Ezek 1:5; Rev 4:6);
- With faces like a lion, ox, man, and eagle/vulture (Ezek 1:10; Rev 4:7);
- Full of eyes (Ezek 1:18; Rev 4:6); and
- A rainbow surrounding the throne (Ezek 1:28; Rev 4:3).
In both, the four living creatures are especially close to God. In Ezekiel, they are the bearers of God’s throne chariot. Show More
There are some interesting differences between the living creatures in Ezekiel and Revelation. For example:
| Ezekiel 1 |
Revelation 4 |
| Each has four faces – man, lion, ox, and eagle (Ezek 1:10). |
Only one face each (Rev 4:7). |
| Each has four wings (Ezek 1:11). |
Each has six wings (Rev 4:8). |
| The wheels are full of eyes all around (Ezek 1:16-18). |
The living creatures themselves are covered with eyes front and back (Rev 4:6). |
| The creatures are under the throne (Ezek 1:26) and are the means by which the throne moves (Ezek 1:12; 15-21). |
The throne seems stationary (Rev 4:2). |
These prophets did not physically see God’s throne room. These were visions in the minds of the prophets. What detail God gave them may be different from time to time, depending on the purpose of the revelation. |
Such living creatures are also mentioned in Ezekiel 10, Isaiah 6, and the apocryphal book of Enoch. Show More
|
1 Enoch 40:2 (Ethiopic Enoch) – a Jewish book known in New Testament times – mentions four archangels: Michael, Gabriel, Uriel, and Raphael. If they are the same as the four living creatures, they are the leaders of the angels. In that case, in Revelation, the first circle around the throne consists of angels, and the second circle consists of human beings, represented by the 24 elders.
Ezekiel 10:20 refers to four living beings as cherubim. This term occurs over 90 times in the Hebrew Bible but only once in the New Testament (Heb 9:4-5), where they are “above” the ark of the covenant.
Similar to the four living creatures of Revelation, the seraphim in Isaiah 6 also have six wings and constantly say, “holy, holy, holy” (Isa 6:2-3; Rev 4:8). Revelation 4, therefore, combines features drawn from both the cherubim in Ezekiel and the seraphim of Isaiah 6.
|
Full of Eyes
They were “full of eyes in front and behind” (Rev 4:6). This is not to be taken literally but symbolizes knowledge of all things. The number four represents ‘the whole earth’ (cf. Rev 7:1; 14:6). The four living creatures, therefore, see everything that happens on earth, symbolizing God’s omniscience. He knows everything that can be known.
4:7-8
7 The first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face like that of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle.
8 And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.” |
Lion, calf, man, and flying eagle
These images symbolize endurance, perseverance, strength, and speed. Relative to the animals, the “face like a man” implies intelligence.
Six wings
Since the living creatures of Ezekiel 1 had four wings each, the six wings of the living beings in Revelation recall the six-winged cherubim of Isaiah 6; two wings were used to cover their faces, two wings to cover their feet, and two were used to fly (Isaiah 6:2).
Eyes around and within
In verse 6, four living creatures were “full of eyes in front and behind.” In the current verse, the eyes are “around and within,” which is difficult to visualize. Nevertheless, the meaning is that the vision of these living creatures is not impeded in any way. God created them with the highest possible alertness, perception, and knowledge.
Other Articles
The Seven Seals
Other Articles
In Revelation 4, 24 elders sit on 24 thrones around God’s throne (Rev 4:4). Since thrones symbolize authority, they share in God’s rule of this world. The purpose of this article is to determine who they are, specifically, whether they are people of angels.
This article further concludes that the 12+12=24 elders represent the people of God from both the Old and New Testaments because Revelation merges the Church into Israel. For example, the New Jerusalem—the eternal home of God’s people in the new heavens and new earth—has written on it the names of both the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles.